Use DNS Application Directory Partitions

Use application directory partitions for Active Directory–integrated DNS zones to reduce replication traffic and the amount of data stored in the global catalog.

After completing the upgrade of all Windows 2000–based domain controllers in the forest to Windows Server 2003, move the Active Directory–integrated DNS data on all DNS servers from the domain partition into the newly created DNS application directory partitions. This is done by changing the replication scope of the DNS zones.

Move the DNS zones that you want to replicate to all DNS servers in the forest to the forest-wide DNS application directory partition, ForestDnsZones. For each domain in the forest, move the DNS zones that you want to replicate to all DNS servers in the domain to the domain-wide DNS application directory partition, DomainDnsZones.

Important

Before you attempt to move DNS data to an application directory partition, make sure that the domain naming master is hosted on a Windows Server 2003–based domain controller.

If there is an existing _msdcs.forest_root_domain zone on your DNS server, move it to the ForestDnsZones application directory partition.

If the _msdcs.forest_root_domain zone is not present as a separate zone on your DNS server, you do not need to perform this procedure because the DNS data that is stored in the _msdcs.forest_root_domain is moved with the forest root domain zone to the domain-wide application directory partition, DomainDnsZones.

To change the replication scope of the domain-wide DNS zone by using a DNS application directory partition

On a domain controller that hosts a DNS server in the particular domain, open the DNS snap-in, right-click the DNS zone that uses the fully qualified domain name of the Active Directory domain, and then click Properties.

Click the Change button next to Replication: All domain controllers in the Active Directory domain.

Click To all DNS servers in the Active Directory domain domainname.

To change the replication scope of the _msdcs.forest_root_domain DNS zone by using a DNS application directory partition

On a domain controller that hosts a DNS server in the forest root domain, open the DNS snap-in, right-click the _msdcs.forest_root_domain DNS zone, and then click Properties.

Click the Change button next to Replication: All domain controllers in the Active Directory domain.

Click To all DNS servers in the Active Directory forest forestname.

For more information about creating, enlisting in, and removing application directory partitions, see Help and Support Center for Windows Server 2003. For more information about creating a DNS design for Active Directory, see "Designing the Active Directory Logical Structure" in this book.